Saudi Arabia, Egypt, oppose Turkey's candidate for the OIC
Regional-Turkey, Politics, 6/15/2004

Works of the conference of the foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference started yesterday in Istanbul. Ankara is trying to pressure into appointing its candidate Akmal Eddin Ihasn Oglo ( 59 year old) in the post of the secretary general of the organization, in succession of Abdul Wahid Balqaziz, an attempt opposed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Turkey has intensified its campaign in confrontations of the candidate of Bangladesh Salah Eddine Qader Shoudari and another candidate from Malaysia to replace the Moroccans Balqaziz who has been assuming the post of the secretary general of the organization since 2001.

The Turkish President Ahmad Necdet Seazer called on Monday for reforms in the Islamic countries, stressing simultaneously that the Greater Middle East initiative of the USA will be doomed to failure if the Arab- Israeli conflict will not be solved.

The foreign ministers and representatives of the OIC 57 member states are to study the situation in Iraq and the Arab- Israeli conflict. The conference will conclude its deliberations tomorrow, Wednesday, by Istanbul declaration and adoption of final resolutions, representatives explained that will cover greater political, economic, financial and cultural files.

The political file includes the Arab- Israeli conflict, the Palestinian question, the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the Arab boycott of Israel. However, one Arab ministerial source expected that the OIC will reiterate its support for the roadmap and to call on the UN Security Council to " consider deployment of the UN forces." It is also expected a meeting to be held for Iraqi's neighboring states, on the sideline of the OIC meeting, according to representatives of these countries.

On the other hand, it is expected that Turkey will pressure for adopting a positive resolution towards the " Northern republic of Turkish Cyprus" -- which occupies the post of the observer in the Organization of the Islamic Conference -- after it had supported the UN plan to reunite the island of Cyprus, while the Greek western part of the island rejected it.

Previous Stories:
  Gul on Turkish- Arab relations   (6/14/2004)
  Turkish MP for enhancing Arab-Turkish Relations   (6/10/2004)
  Turkish Businessmen for enhancing Turkish-Arab trade Relations   (6/5/2004)

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